"He gets under your skin, there are a lot of people at TRN that love him and we are sad to see him go. I don't think you'd find someone more passionate about radio, more passionate about the Bay of Plenty than Grayson.
"He's colourful, he can paint a picture like nobody else, we love him and I think that's why Tauranga loves him too."
Mr Gurney said Mr Ottaway had been with Newstalk ZB for about three years but had been with The Radio Network for more than seven years. His coverage of the Rena disaster had been outstanding, he said.
"He was plugged into that story like no one else that I have seen," Mr Gurney said.
"He had contacts all over the place and was really able to get information that others weren't able to and would often call into the newsroom with "you'll never guess what".
Mr Gurney said Mr Ottaway was an avid aviator as well.
"A few years ago when I came to see him in Tauranga, the first thing he did was take me to a flight simulator at the airport. He's absolutely passionate about aviation and flying and that's something else he has brought to his reporting too."
Prior to his time at Newstalk ZB, Mr Ottaway was seen all over town as a part of the Classic Hits breakfast crew, he said.
Mr Gurney said Mr Ottaway was looking forward to the future.
"Which is typical of Grayson, he's got irons in the fire and no doubt has a bright future a head.
"He is seeing it as the start of something new."
His last day at Newstalk ZB will be June 18.